Series and Parallel Circuits

So far we have looked at only one component in a circuit with meters. When more than
one component is used in a circuit, there are two different ways of arranging them
and these are called series or parallel. There are different rules for series and parallel
circuits and you must know these rules.

Rules for a Series Circuit

When components are connected one following another in a ring, the components are said
to be in series with each other and the circuit is called a series circuit. Below is a series
circuit shown with three different resistors.

1. Current in a Series Circuit

The current in a series circuit is the same everywhere.

An ammeter placed anywhere in a series circuit always gives the same reading. In the
circuit above, A1 = A2 = A3 = A4.

2. Voltage in a Series Circuit.

The voltage for each component depends on its resistance. To calculate the voltages
below, we need to know the total resistance of the circuit, and the current flowing through
it.
The voltage for all components adds up to the supply voltage (from the cell or battery). Vsup
= V1 + V2 + V3. The supply voltage is divided (shared) between the components.

3. Resistance in a Series Circuit.

You can calculate the total resistance of a series circuit

by adding up the resistance of each component. Rtotal = R1 + R2 + R3.

In the above circuit,

Rtotal = 2 + 3 + 4
= 9 Ohms.

4. Calculation of Voltages and Current in a Series Circuit

If the supply voltage (from the cell) is 12 Volts,

what are the voltages across each resistor? From the previous page, the total resistance
of the circuit below is 9 Ohms.

We can use V = I x R to find the current, which in a series circuit is the same everywhere.
I =VR
= 12  9
= 1·333 Amps

Using the same equation V = I x R for each resistor in turn

(and rounding up numbers) gives

V1 = 1·333 x 2
= 2·667 Volts.
V2 = 1·333 x 3
= 4·000 Volts
V3 = 1·333 x 4
= 5·333 Volts
You must always say what the units are at the end of the calculation. If you write V3 =
5·333 without putting the word "Volts" afterwards, you will lose a mark in your tests and
exams. Finally, we can check that the voltage for all components adds up to the supply
voltage.

V1 + V2 + V3 = 2·667 + 4·000 + 5·333

= 12 Volts.

5. Switches and Lamps (Light bulbs) in Series Circuits

An open switch in a series circuit will turn everything off, because the circuit will be
disconnected from the cell.

When lamps are connected in series, the more lamps in the circuit the dimmer they get,
because the voltage is divided between them. If one lamp in a series circuit breaks or fails,
all the others will go out with it. For this reason, lamps are always connected in parallel
(except Christmas Tree Lights or Fairy Lights, where the large mains voltage is
conveniently divided between the lamps).

Rules for a Parallel Circuit

Below is a parallel circuit shown with three different resistors.

1. Current in a Parallel Circuit

The current in a parallel circuit depends on the resistance of the branch. The total current
flowing into the branches is equal to the total current flowing out of the branches. A1 = A5

The current at A2 flowing through the 2 Ohm resistor

can be found using V = I x R. If the supply voltage is 12 Volts,
I=VR
= 12  2
= 6 Amps.

You would get the same answer for the 2 Ohm resistor,
whether or not the other resistors are connected in the circuit. For parallel circuits, each
component behaves as if it is connected independently to the cell, and is unaware of the
other components

The current A3 flowing through the 3 Ohm resistor is

I =VR
= 12 3
= 4 Amps

The current A4 flowing through the 4 Ohm resistor is

I =VR
= 12  4
= 3 Amps
Notice that the bigger the resistance, the smaller the current.

The total current A1 or A5 is found by adding up the current in each branch.

A1 = A2 + A3 + A4
=6+4+3
= 13 Amps

This is much larger than the current of 1·333 Amps which flows through a series circuit
with the same resistors and supply voltage.
2. Voltage in a Parallel Circuit

The voltage in a parallel circuit is the same for all branches.

V1 = V2 = V3.

The voltage for each branch is the same as the supply voltage.
V1 = V2 = V3= Vsup.

3. Resistance in a Parallel Circuit

The total resistance of a parallel circuit is calculated using the formula 1/R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3
·····
In the above circuit,
1
/R = 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/4
= 6/12 + 4/12 + 3/12
= 13/12
R = 12/13
= 0·92 Ohms

Notice that this is a much smaller resistance than you get in the series circuit using the
same resistors. It is even smaller than the smallest resistor in the parallel circuit, which is 2
Ohms.

Putting more resistors in the parallel circuit decreases the total resistance because the
electricity has additional branches to flow along and so the total current flowing increases.

4. Switches and Lamps (Light bulbs) in a Parallel Circuit

A switch at S1 or S5 will switch all the lamps off and on together (assume that all the other
switches are "closed" which means "on").

The switch at S2 will only light the lamp at L1. This is very useful because it means that we
can switch the lamp on and off without affecting the other lamps. The brightness of the
lamp does not change as other lamps in parallel are switched on or off.
For this reason lamps are always connected in parallel.

Similarly, the switch at S3 will only light the lamp at L2. The switch at S4 will only light the
lamp at L3.
Other Components

1. Diode
The diode will allow electricity to pass through it in one direction only. The circuit symbol is
like an arrow pointing to a bar. Electricity can only pass in the direction in which the arrow
points.

The diode is mainly used in circuits with alternating current.

2. Light Dependant Resistor.

As the name suggests, a light dependant resistor (LDR) is a component whose resistance
changes when the amount of light falling on it (called the light intensity) changes. All you
need to remember is that the resistance goes down as the amount of light goes up.
Resistance decreases as light intensity increases, light is low, dark is high (resistance).
The LDR can be used in a circuit to automatically switch lights on at night.

3. Thermistor
For most components, the resistance rises as the temperature rises. A thermistor is a
special type of resistor which has been deliberately manufactured so that its resistance
decreases as its temperature rises.

The thermistor can be used in a circuit which senses a temperature change, for example a
thermostat to keep the temperature constant, or an alarm if the temperature gets too high
or too low (for fire alarms, commercial freezers etc.).